Magpies won't take Lions lightly in AFL

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is preparing to be tested in the AFL clash with winless Brisbane

Collingwood won't be underestimating Brisbane in Sunday's AFL clash at the Gabba despite the Lions' winless start to the season.

The Magpies played two games in five days last week, including Sunday's loss to defending premiers Richmond, but coach Nathan Buckley said they couldn't afford to take Brisbane lightly.

"They've played a lot of really solid footy," Buckley said on Thursday.

"They are yet to win a game but have lost a couple by less that a kick and have been in games for a long time, bar the Richmond game, and we're not underestimating the capacity they bring to the table."

He has named All Australian midfielder Dayne Zorko, who has been heavily tagged, ex-Magpie Dayne Beams, Charlie Cameron and ruckman Stefan Martin as players all on Collingwood's radar.

Despite a long injury tally, star ruckman Brodie Grundy is a certain starter after recovering from shin soreness.

Grundy had a scan after the Tigers match with fears of a bone stress injury but Buckley said it was only a soft-tissue problem they would continue to monitor.

"Brodes probably thought it was a little bit more than that, but we'll continue to manage him," Buckley said.

"He's an important part of our best footy and has been a more-than-solid contributor for us for the first six weeks, so that's a good result from the scan for us."

Buckley said Darcy Moore and Taylor Adams would also suit up after overcoming hamstring complaints, while Travis Varcoe and Ben Crocker were set to come in after being rested for the Tigers.

The Magpies have beaten the Lions in six of their past seven clashes, including the four most-recent Gabba matches, but Buckley said when he was a Collingwood player, he felt Brisbane were always on top.

"My kids were actually asking me, 'Do we go well against Brisbane?' When I was a player, Brisbane were really hard to beat and at the top of the table," Buckley said.

"In the end, that has some influence but I would've thought the competition is far more even than it's ever been and there are no easy games.

"Regardless of the opponent you're facing, you really are looking to attend to your part of the equation first and that's where our focus will be."